Product Quality and Compliance: the Superga S.r.l. case.

Superga S.r.l. carries out Quality Assurance activities to support its Production Licensees in implementing the quality flow, guaranteeing a compliant product and refining the Brand's new strategy, which aims to launch high quality products on the market. The main activities generally performed are the sample control of the styles produced through chemical and performance tests on the finished product and the materials used. In addition, inspections are carried out along the production line and at the end of the process on the appearance of the product, its cleanliness, and the characteristics of the materials and assembled components. Superga S.r.l. then relies on its operations team based in Vietnam and constantly sends inspectors to the production lines to check that the processes are carried out correctly. To complete this process, the Due Diligence Testing Programme was then created and implemented. The implementation and enhancement of this programme arose following the definition of the new Brand strategy and the analysis of the production process and quality flow. The need to innovate in order to diversify the Brand's product basket and gain market share must be based on the distribution of a perfect product. Therefore, to support the strategy, quality control was increased and enhanced. Indeed, to gather new customers and strengthen the bond with existing ones. It is fundamental bringing innovative and diversified products to market that are clearly compliant with regulations, have lasting performance, and meet production and shipping timelines by reducing non-value-added time. Instead, the analysis of the production process and quality flow revealed inefficiencies that can be reduced and eliminated through the introduction of a standardised programme. This must be shared and explained to all resources so that it is internalised and all actors are made aware and motivated to pursue continuous improvement. Moreover, there have been, quality issues reported by customers and licensees that must be addressed, together with the need to reduce the defects found and the failed reports received. To achieve these objectives, the proposal was to strengthen the following Quality Assurance activities: •??Enhancement of the program involving a strengthening of In-line Inspections and QA reports; •??Implementation of the Due Diligence Testing Program. The aforementioned objectives also included the revision of some of the company's standard documents (Brand Manual, PRSL (Product Restricted Substances List) and Performance Requirements Document) and the creation of the Superga Footwear Testing Program, in order to have a solid foundation on which to build the mentioned operational plans. Enhanced In-line Inspections make it possible to always ensure greater control during production activities on any exterior and physical defects. The Due Diligence Testing Program guarantees increasingly comprehensive verification of proper performance and detailed control of the chemical composition of the product.